[urq] intermittent ignition cutout, tach drops to zero

[Brandon Rogers]

Next time you're inside the instrument cluster - clean up the contacts for 
the tach - that cured my intermittent failing tach I've had for a year (did 
not include any actual engine issues)

Brandon

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thatcher Hubbard" <thatcher.hubbard at gmail.com>
To: "Brandon Rogers" <brogers at terrix.com>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: [urq] intermittent ignition cutout, tach drops to zero


> I've been having a very similar problem with mine, right out of the
> blue.  My problem also started about a week after I completed some
> major work.  When driving, the tach will bounce around (usually drops
> to zero though) and come back up, even though I can hear the engine
> still turning.  It bucks pretty hard when it happens.  I was convinced
> that it was something to do with the ignition (as in, the ignition
> computer cuts out).
> The ignition switch is an easy/cheap fix?
>
>
> On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 13:45:24 -0700, Brandon Rogers <brogers at terrix.com> 
> wrote:
>> Sounds like what Dennis was experiencing recently - I think you should 
>> talk
>> with him and see if it's the same thing - and what he's done...
>>
>> Brandon
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ed Kellock" <ekellock at gmail.com>
>> To: "Urq List" <urq at audifans.com>
>> Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 12:38 PM
>> Subject: [urq] intermittent ignition cutout, tach drops to zero
>>
>> > In the last few days, my urq has started to cut out intermittently.
>> > The tach drops to zero and most of the time it comes right back on its
>> > own, but sometimes I have to cycle the ignition switch.  Every time I
>> > do have to cycle the ignition switch it comes back immediately
>> > afterwards.
>> >
>> > Over the last couple days I have fixed some vacuum leaks, cleaned the
>> > contacts on the cap and rotor, replaced the spark plugs with some
>> > f5dpor (20-valve turbo) plugs, and replaced a blob of black goo that
>> > was originally a breather hose down on the side of the block.
>> >
>> > The car has a little history of this type of cutting out.  It did it
>> > one time on the day I started home with it from SC when I first bought
>> > it.  Cycling the key fixed it then and it was fine the rest of the
>> > 1500 miles home.  Since then (Oct '02), it's done it a grand total of
>> > maybe 3 times.   Did the whole Park City trip without this ever
>> > happening.
>> >
>> > The issues I fixed in the last few days have existed since I got the
>> > car.  I feel I've either disturbed something or, I've gotten things
>> > more buttoned down than they've been for a long time and something's
>> > not quite used to working right again.
>> >
>> > That last statement may sound stupid, but after I fixed the vacuum
>> > leaks (metering head bolt missing, other's loose, and a small diameter
>> > hose was torn at the nipple it connects to), the car started up with
>> > very little cranking and settled into a nice idle of about 800 rpm,
>> > which is something it has never done.  While the car was idling, I was
>> > fiddling with the mixture a little and out of the blue the frequency
>> > valve kicked in (started buzzing constantly) and the idle went up to
>> > about 1100 like it used to always be.  But then the buzzing stopped
>> > and the idle settled back down again and this hasn't reoccurred.  Ever
>> > since that round of wrenching though, I've had the intermittent
>> > ignition cutout.
>> >
>> > Also the main hoses to the carbon canister are not connected, but the
>> > very small diameter hose from the control valve to the intake manifold
>> > is still connected.  One of the nipples on the intake dome is broken
>> > off and plugged and the other is capped.  I assume that's when the
>> > previous owner or one of his monkey-lad minions just disconnected the
>> > hoses to the carbon canister.
>> >
>> > I guess my main question right now is: is there any way that the
>> > fuel/vacuum functions can trigger an ignition cutout for any reason?
>> > That is the main area I've affected and this ignition cutout just
>> > seems like a breaker flipping and resetting.  I've wiggled and jiggled
>> > all the wires in the areas where I had my hands stuffed and haven't
>> > been able to intentially cause the cutout.
>> >
>> > Ed
>> > Colorado Springs
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>> Have an urq answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ... all 
>> contributions welcome!
>>